The most recent example of CSOs seeking Bank input on their research is Oxfam/GB who recently came to the Bank to share the preliminary findings of a study on the impacts of the global financial crisis on poor countries. The head of research for Oxfam/Australia, May Miller-Dawkins, made a presentation on February 18, 2010 to Bank and IMF staff on the initial findings of study carried out in 11 countries involving some 2,500 individuals and studies by a range of universities and international organizations. The study concluded that while the global financial crisis has hurt the poor around the world, its impact on developing countries has not been as severe as originally feared. Many countries, societies, communities and individuals have demonstrated an unexpected ‘resilience’, a finding that Oxfam, the World Bank and IMF agreed on, even if they did not necessarily agree on the reasons. The study attributes the high degree of resilience detected to strong social networks, economic structures, and state action. The study also noted the important mitigating role of conditional cash transfer and other government programs.

An economist from the Bank (Andrew Burns, Director of the Global Macroeconomic Trends Team of the Development Prospects Group) and one from the IMF (Andre Berg, Assistant Director for the Macro-economic Division / Research Department) were asked to comment on the research. Both commended Oxfam for seeking Bank input before the report is finalized, and noted that much of the Oxfam study findings mirrored the conclusions of similar Bank studies, particularly the focus on resilience and how volatility can affect the poor. Both also suggested however, that the Oxfam report could benefit from macro-economic and historical analysis that would explain why developing countries were able to cope better with this crisis than previous ones. Berg noted that IMF research found that much of the resilience demonstrated by developing countries is directly related to the financial reforms they undertook in the decade before the crisis. He cautioned, however, that the crisis is not over and that developing countries may build up large debts as they attempt to climb out of the crisis.

What makes these policy dialogue sessions so innovative is that they represent a more horizontal exchange of views than in the past when it was more of a one way exchange with CSOs criticizing and the Bank defending its positions. Moreover, by focusing on issues rather than on the institutions, per se, these sessions allow for a more substantive and dispassionate discussion around still largely conflictual topics. In addition, this new level of dialogue promises to create more space for identifying common ground and build trust over time.

Comments

John, so glad you are writing/saying what so many of us are thinking. These are the same reasons why working in the Bank has become such a pleasure and source of passion for me. What I read about the Bank in college is in stark contract to the work we are engaged in now. I hope you continue to shed light on this encouraging trend. Thanks!

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